Online Course or Webinar?

You may have piles of experience presenting to live groups but are fuzzy on how to make the transition online. Particularly confusing is the difference between an online course and a webinar. While both formats let you present information to people from afar, they’re not the same, nor are they mutually exclusive.

If you’re considering opening up your training to include an online element, this matrix might help you find the best tool for the job.

Ask yourself ...

Webinar

Online Course

Is it a short, one-off training best suited for an hour or less presentation?

X

Do you need to track attendees, for instance if they’re employees required to attend sexual harassment or compliance training?

X

Would attendees benefit from interactive exercises?

X

Should attendees be able to submit assignments?

X

Do you need to know who attended?

X

X

Do you need to know what material attendees looked at?

X

Would you rather not have a staff member be in attendance?

X

Do you need participants to see each other?

X

Do other participants need to see you in real time?

X

Are you converting a workbook or binder?

X

Are you looking to do a presentation for free?

X

Do you need professoinal help gearing your material for an online audience?

X

Would you like to use discussion groups, wikis or allow users to use a device?